The Problem with GuySuCo is the PPP Government!

Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, has finally acknowledged that the Skeldon Sugar Factory investment is a failure. This investment amounted to about US$200 million in an economy with an annual GDP of about US$ 1.2 billion. As a percent of GDP this investment amounts to about 17% of GDP. This makes it the largest single investment failure since Guyana’s independence in 1966. Even the PNC did not accomplish a failure this gigantic.

The PPP Government is hustling to exonerate itself from blame, fixing same on a hapless GuySuCo Board and Management. Guyanese must not be fooled by this false claim. The collapse of the Skeldon Sugar Factory is squarely at the hands of President Jagdeo, Minister Persaud, and Donald Ramotar along with the cronies they appointed on the Board. The entire lot should bow out in shame if they have any sense of honour and decency!

The first cause of failure was the mis-advised grant of the contract for construction to the Chinese firm, CNIC, which had no experience in sugar factory building. The other failings included the acceptance of the factory as complete before the Chinese firm had proven to GuySuCo that it was fully complete and operational; the non-training of locals to operate the factory after the Chinese would have left; the stifling political interference which resulted in experienced, qualified and senior staff including agro-engineers and agronomists being forced out and being replaced by friends and supporters of the Government; the ill-preparedness in not expanding cane cultivation to feed the factory; and, the disrespect for sugar workers which has resulted in massive migration away from work in the Estate.

To solve this problem the PPP Government, fully backed by its Presidential Candidate, Donald Ramotar, a Director on the Board for some 19 years, plans to enter another management contract with either an Indian or Chinese company. Minister Persaud is quoted as saying that the Government was currently evaluating two proposals to manage the said factory.

The AFC sees this development as a grand opportunity for massive corruption. There is no record that any management contract was ever put to a public tender. Moreover, the AFC is aware that taxpayers’ dollars of nearly US$2.5 m would have to be paid to the contract manager per annum!

More significantly, the AFC has come by reliable information that the Chinese company identified is the selfsame CNIC, the same company that built the third rate, very high cost Skeldon factory, where the exploded boiler has not yet been properly fixed, the new cane dumper cannot function, and numerous other problems caused by poor quality components are being experienced every day! The maker of this defect-riddled 8400 tons cane per day grinding capacity factory, which has not yet achieved even half that amount for one day, is being evaluated as a potential contract manager!

Also, the Indian company being evaluated is none other than Surendra Engineering which has the contract for the US$10.0 m Enmore Demerara Gold sugar packaging plant, which plant recently exploded and killed a worker. That specific equipment has not yet been fixed and, in addition, the massive internal work on the factory upgrade to supply the bagging plant has not yet been completed. GuySuCo's technical managers have refused to accept this work despite political pressure to do so.

This same Surendra Engineering, obviously specially favoured, was awarded by the Ministry of Agriculture a contract for the recently tendered 8 big drainage pumps despite the fact that it does not make pumps at all! Surendra Engineering through another Dubai based front Company, Salim al Midah, was given the consultancy contract valued approx US$500,000 to provide the plan to upgrade Enmore and Blairmont factories. There is every indication of an unholy alliance between Surendra Engineering and key GuySuCo managers, directors, and politicos to huff all of GuySuCo's engineering projects including the one now to manage Skeldon, a task Surendra Engineering, like CNIC, is incapable of doing, both not having the history, experience and managerial capacity in running sugar factories!

The AFC is aware of very experienced and well known Indian and Brazilian consortiums which ought to be invited to give proposals to manage the Skeldon Factory and possibly to procure finances from their respective Governments to assist in doing so.

The AFC has crafted an alternative vision for GuySuCo that will assure simultaneous accounting and social profits for the people. We propose, for starters, a professional Board with no political interference; the incremental mechanization of the industry to avoid the almost slave-labour conditions workers have to experience; and, creating a captive market through our E10 framework in order to save the Demerara and West Berbice Estates, by the production of ethanol. Then we intend to seek foreign investments into developing alternative lands for ethanol production for export.

The AFC wants to make it clear that an AFC Government will not be fettered by the contractual terms of any management agreement entered into by the PPP/C Government and either CNIC or Surendra Engineering. A management contract ought not be entered into now but ought to await until after the elections.

Source

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The Alliance For Change (AFC) is calling for the privatization of the Skeldon sugar factory management to be done after the general and regional elections which are constitutionally due by December 28.

We need to be careful here because the release is not talking about privatization of GuySuCo. It is talking about entering into a new private management contract after the election. They are different things.

Ambitiously thinking but that would be until December 2017, in reality.

This plan work well with the overall PPP plan. let the Guyanese remain cane cutters and grease monkeys, let them remain poor and illiterate and they vote for the cup to save their slice of bread. The foreigners and friends come and take the prime jobs, have their loaf with butter and cheese, and the party goes on. Long live corruption, long live incompetence, long live the PPP.

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The AFC, he added, was against either of them being considered for the contract and would not be “fettered” by such a contract with either firm should the party form the new government.


Khemraj Ramjattan
Alliance For Change

should the party form the new government = .. in 2011??

quote:

Originally posted by baseman:

.. long live the PPP.

Correct, Baseman.

quote:

Originally posted by baseman:
This plan work well with the overall PPP plan. let the Guyanese remain cane cutters and grease monkeys, let them remain poor and illiterate and they vote for the cup to save their slice of bread. The foreigners and friends come and take the prime jobs, have their loaf with butter and cheese, and the party goes on. Long live corruption, long live incompetence, long live the PPP.

Guyana will always have to balance between rich and poor, educated and uneducated. All Guyanese cannot be doctors and lawyers. When you talk about cane cutters, you should say it with more respect. The cane cutters, and rice farmers are the backbone of Guyana, and you and I are the beneficiaries of their labors that put us through school.

quote:

Originally posted by Cobra:

quote:

Originally posted by baseman:
This plan work well with the overall PPP plan. let the Guyanese remain cane cutters and grease monkeys, let them remain poor and illiterate and they vote for the cup to save their slice of bread. The foreigners and friends come and take the prime jobs, have their loaf with butter and cheese, and the party goes on. Long live corruption, long live incompetence, long live the PPP.

Guyana will always have to balance between rich and poor, educated and uneducated. All Guyanese cannot be doctors and lawyers. When you talk about cane cutters, you should say it with more respect. The cane cutters, and rice farmers are the backbone of Guyana, and you and I are the beneficiaries of their labors that put us through school.

And that is precisely the advice you need to heed, friend. How can you be so blasé about what is going in Guyana, simply because you have a bias for the PPP? Others here on GNI, make it clear that while they are PPP supporters, they do not condone everything what the Gov't has done.

You now, Cobra, have very little credibility left. You sound just like a run-of-the-mill PPP apologist, like one of the paid bloggers even. The only others in your class are BGurd_See, Nehru and Uncle Rama and we know they are not paid. Are you Cobra, or are you just a bit slow, perhaps cold-hearted even?

quote:

Originally posted by Cobra:

quote:

Originally posted by baseman:
This plan work well with the overall PPP plan. let the Guyanese remain cane cutters and grease monkeys, let them remain poor and illiterate and they vote for the cup to save their slice of bread. The foreigners and friends come and take the prime jobs, have their loaf with butter and cheese, and the party goes on. Long live corruption, long live incompetence, long live the PPP.

Guyana will always have to balance between rich and poor, educated and uneducated. All Guyanese cannot be doctors and lawyers. When you talk about cane cutters, you should say it with more respect. The cane cutters, and rice farmers are the backbone of Guyana, and you and I are the beneficiaries of their labors that put us through school.

Cobra, for the size and resources of Guyana, being one step above haiti is nothing to wi=rite home about. Granted, the PPP inherited it, but they maintained it that was. Rwanda, even after the 1994 genocide is more reconciled than Guyana and mind you viewed as one of te more progressing democratic nations in Africa. Guyana has not budged, except for the few rich and crony political class...and the diaspora.

Cobra, why did you run away from the PPP/C regime?

quote:

Originally posted by Demerara_Guy:

quote:

The AFC, he added, was against either of them being considered for the contract and would not be “fettered” by such a contract with either firm should the party form the new government.


Goat bite the AFC or wha, lol

Khemraj Ramjattan
Alliance For Change

should the party form the new government = .. in 2011??

quote:

Originally posted by Sase Singh:

quote:

Originally posted by Demerara_Guy:

quote:

The AFC, he added, was against either of them being considered for the contract and would not be “fettered” by such a contract with either firm should the party form the new government.


Goat bite the AFC or wha, lol

Khemraj Ramjattan
Alliance For Change

should the party form the new government = .. in 2011??

Goat bite the AFC or Wah Demerara man? We will win more that 51% that is our plan and once the people are sensetise to our plan, more than 51% it shall be.

AFC urges rejection of bidders for Skeldon sugar management - questions lack of tender
By STABROEK STAFF | LOCAL | THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2011

The Alliance For Change (AFC) yesterday urged the rejection of two companies involved in troubled projects here from being selected to manage the new Skeldon sugar factory after raising questions about their experience and whether there was any tender for the project. AFC Presidential Candidate, Khemraj Ramjattan at the party’s weekly media briefing identified China National Technology Import and Export Corp (CNTIC) – the company that built the problem-plagued Skeldon sugar factory – and Surendra Engineering – the company that built the Enmore sugar packaging plant as the two companies that are being evaluated by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to take over the management of the Skeldon factory.

“I am of the view that they should be ruled out completely because they would not have satisfied the requirements of having expertise and experience in sugar factory management,” Ramjattan said noting that they were civil engineering firms. Further, he raised the question of whether there was any tender for the project. “There is no record that any management contract was ever put to a public tender,” Ramjattan said.


Khemraj Ramjattan

The AFC said it is aware that large sums of taxpayers’ dollars would have to be paid to the contract manager per month. “It’s a massive amount of money to be given to a firm without tender procedures being the requirement,” he declared while condemning the secrecy with which the process is being carried out. Agriculture Minister, Robert Persaud when contacted yesterday, said that he had no comment. He said he was out of town and had not seen the AFC statement. “Y’all run with what they have to say,” he said.

Persaud had said last Friday that GuySuCo does not have the competence to run the troubled US$181M Skeldon factory and he urged the corporation to speed up consideration of proposals by Indian and Chinese companies to run it. It was a stunning admission by Persaud, in the wake of the government’s dismissal of Booker-Tate from management of the industry several years ago and their contention that GuySuCo would be able to run the much-vaunted Skeldon factory which has seen mishap after mishap. He had not identified the companies that were being evaluated. Ramjattan said yesterday that the AFC “has come by reliable information” that CNTIC and Surendra Engineering are being evaluated as potential contract managers. Given their record on their projects here, he said, they should not be considered.

Hustling

The AFC leader said that the government is “hustling to exonerate itself from blame” but it should be held responsible for the “failure” of the factory. The first cause of failure was the ill-advised grant of the contract for construction to CNTIC which had no experience in sugar factory building, he said. “The other failings included the acceptance of the factory as complete before the Chinese firm had proven to GuySuCo that it was fully complete and operational; the non-training of locals to operate the factory after the Chinese would have left; the stifling political interference which resulted in experienced, qualified and senior staff including agro-engineers and agronomists being forced out and being replaced by friends and supporters of the Government; the ill-preparedness in not expanding cane cultivation to feed the factory; and, the disrespect for sugar workers which has resulted in massive migration away from work in the Estate,” Ramjattan declared.

He said, as well, that the exploded boiler at the factory has not yet been properly fixed, the new cane dumper cannot function, and numerous other problems caused by poor quality components are being experienced every day. He also pointed out that the factory has not achieved even half of its 8400 tons cane per day grinding capacity. Meanwhile, the AFC leader also said that Surendra Engineering, which was awarded the US$12.5M contract for the Enmore sugar packaging plant, has yet to fix the piece of equipment that recently exploded and injured a worker who subsequently died. An inquiry has found Surendra and GuySuCo culpable in the matter. “In addition, the massive internal work on the factory upgrade to supply the bagging plant has not yet been completed,” Ramjattan said adding that GuySuCo’s technical managers have refused to accept this work despite political pressure to do so.

Ramjattan also raised concerns about other contracts awarded to Surendra Engineering, saying that the company recently was successful in a tender for supplying eight big drainage pumps despite the fact that it does not make pumps. He said that the same company, “through another Dubai based front Company, Salim al Midah”, was given a consultancy contract valued US$500 000 to provide the plan to upgrade the Enmore and Blairmont sugar factories. “The AFC is aware of very experienced and well known Indian and Brazilian consortiums which ought to be invited to give proposals to manage the Skeldon Factory and possibly to procure finances from their respective Governments to assist in doing so,” he said.

The AFC leader labelled the Skeldon project the “largest single investment failure since Guyana’s independence in 1966” while pointing out that it was a US$200M investment in an economy with an annual GDP of about US$ 1.2B. He said that an AFC Government “will not be fettered” by the contractual terms of any management agreement entered into by the PPP/C Government and either CNTIC or Surendra Engineering. Ramjattan said that he understood that the government wants the management agreement to be inked before the dissolution of Parliament. “A management contract ought not be entered into now but ought to await until after the elections,” he said.

Source

Grand opportunity for massive corruption – AFC - Foreign management for Skeldon factory…
AUGUST 25, 2011 | BY KNEWS | FILED UNDER NEWS

A proposal to hire either a Chinese or Indian firm to manage the multi-million-dollar Skeldon Sugar Factory may be a grand opportunity for massive corruption, the Alliance For Change (AFC) says. The political party also called for any decisions to hire overseas management to wait until after elections. The factory, representing the largest single capital project by government to date, has not been performing to par and still has a number of defects to be rectified by the contractor, China National Technical Import and Export Corporation (CNTIC).

Last week, the government admitted that the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) does not have the management expertise to run the factory and is seriously looking at hiring either a foreign company, Chinese or Indian, to manage the estate. Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud said that the success of the sugar industry rides on the success of the Skeldon factory, which was commissioned two years ago at a cost of US$181M. But the AFC, during its weekly press conference, lashed out at the handling of the Skeldon factory and its woes. AFC has blasted government over the US$181M-plus Skeldon sugar factory.

FAILURE

The AFC felt that Minister Persaud’s announcement to seek either a Chinese or Indian management team is a clear acknowledgement that the factory investment is a failure. “This investment amounted to about US$200M in an economy with an annual GDP of about US$1.2 billion. As a percent of GDP this investment amounts to about 17% of GDP. This makes it the largest single investment failure since Guyana’s independence in 1966. Even the PNC did not accomplish a failure this gigantic,” Ramjattan noted in a prepared statement. “The PPP government is hustling to exonerate itself from blame, fixing same on a hapless GuySuCo board and management. Guyanese must not be fooled by this false claim. The entire lot should bow out in shame if they have any sense of honour and decency.”

Listing the failures, as he called them, Ramjattan pointed to the “mis-advised” grant of the contract for construction to the Chinese firm, CNTIC, which had no experience in sugar factory building. The other failings included the acceptance of the factory as complete before the Chinese firm had proven to GuySuCo that it was fully complete and operational; the non-training of locals to operate the factory after the Chinese would have left and the “stifling political interference” which resulted in experienced, qualified and senior staff including agro-engineers and agronomists, being forced out and replaced by friends and supporters of the government. The problems also included the ill-preparedness in not expanding cane cultivation to feed the factory and the disrespect for sugar workers which has resulted in massive migration away from work in the estate.

MORE WOES

“To solve this problem the PPP Government, fully backed by its Presidential Candidate, Donald Ramotar, a director on the board for some 19 years, plans to enter another management contract with either an Indian or Chinese company. Minister Persaud is quoted as saying that the government was currently evaluating two proposals to manage the said factory.” According to the AFC official, the party viewed this development as a grand opportunity for massive corruption. “There is no record that any management contract was ever put to a public tender. Moreover, the AFC is aware that taxpayers’ dollars of nearly US$2.5M would have to be paid to the contract manager per annum!”

The AFC claimed that it has come by “reliable information” that the Chinese company identified is CNTIC, the same company that built “the third rate, very high cost Skeldon factory, where the exploded boiler has not yet been properly fixed, the new cane dumper cannot function, and numerous other problems caused by poor quality components are being experienced every day.” AFC said that it has information that CNTIC, “the maker of the defect-riddled 8400 tons cane per day grinding capacity factory, which has not yet achieved even half that amount for one day”, is being evaluated as a potential contract manager.

Also, the Indian company being evaluated is Surendra Engineering which has the contract for the US$10M Enmore Demerara Gold sugar packaging plant, a section of which recently exploded and killed a worker. That specific equipment has not yet been fixed and, in addition, the massive internal work on the factory upgrade to supply the bagging plant has not yet been completed. GuySuCo’s technical managers have refused to accept this work despite political pressure to do so.”

FAVOURED

The AFC also lashed out at a recent contract award to Surendra Engineering, which it says is obviously specially favoured, for eight drainage pumps, despite the fact that the company does not make pumps at all. “Surendra Engineering through another Dubai-based front Company, Salim al Midah, was given the consultancy contract valued approximately US$500,000 to provide the plan to upgrade Enmore and Blairmont factories. There is every indication of an unholy alliance between Surendra Engineering and key GuySuCo managers, directors, and politicos to huff all of GuySuCo’s engineering projects including the one now to manage Skeldon, a task Surendra Engineering, like CNTIC, is incapable of doing, both not having the history, experience and managerial capacity in running sugar factories.”

AFC also said it is aware of experienced and well-known Indian and Brazilian consortiums which ought to be invited to give proposals to manage the Skeldon Factory and possibly to procure finances from their respective governments to assist in doing so. “The AFC has crafted an alternative vision for GuySuCo that will assure simultaneous accounting and social profits for the people. We propose, for starters, a professional board with no political interference; the incremental mechanization of the industry to avoid the almost slave-labour conditions workers have to experience and creating a captive market through our E10 framework in order to save the Demerara and West Berbice Estates, by the production of ethanol. Then we intend to seek foreign investments into developing alternative lands for ethanol production for export.”

The AFC made it clear that the party when in government will not be fettered by the contractual terms of any management agreement entered into by the PPP/C Government and either CNTIC or Surendra Engineering. “A management contract ought not be entered into now but ought to await until after the elections.” Questioned about the proposals to hire a management team, Ramjattan said the party believes that the government will attempt to pass it through Parliament before it there is a dissolution for elections. He also believed that the defects of the factory should be fixed by CNTIC before any proposals to manage it is even considered.

Source

This Guysuco thing is going to cost us the election, these chaps have mismanaged this whole damn thing and it has left a terrible mess there and sugar workers are cussing us morning noon and night.

Now they do not even go to GAWU to complain they just strike and walk off the job and go to an AFC chap to adjudicate the matter. The Estate manager has to end up going to this lil water wash boy and get him to sort out the matter and beg him to get the workers back to work.

People do not really know what is going on at the sugar estates but let me tell you guys it is a friggin mess.

quote:

Originally posted by Horse Man:
This Guysuco thing is going to cost us the election, these chaps have mismanaged this whole damn thing and it has left a terrible mess there and sugar workers are cussing us morning noon and night.

Now they do not even go to GAWU to complain they just strike and walk off the job and go to an AFC chap to adjudicate the matter. The Estate manager has to end up going to this lil water wash boy and get him to sort out the matter and beg him to get the workers back to work.

People do not really know what is going on at the sugar estates but let me tell you guys it is a friggin mess.

Good point HM, if the PPP is to regain the trust of the sugar workers, they have to start listening to de lil wata bai and grass cutta lady.

I remember bits of a story where Cheddi was on one of the Essequibo Islands to do an official function. He noticed that one person was missing and he walked to the man's house and invited him personally. Cheddi used to stay at the man's house when the PPP was at the lowest level.

I dont need your AFC rass to tell me I made a good point. Haul all yuh tail dat side we are gonna beat all yuh senseless in this election.

quote:

Originally posted by Horse Man:
I dont need your AFC rass to tell me I made a good point. Haul all yuh tail dat side we are gonna beat all yuh senseless in this election.

It looks like the cat pee in you dhall too.

quote:

Originally posted by Tola:

quote:

Originally posted by Horse Man:
I dont need your AFC rass to tell me I made a good point. Haul all yuh tail dat side we are gonna beat all yuh senseless in this election.

It looks like the cat pee in you dhall too.

Uncle Toles you does gat me crackin up!

quote:

Originally posted by Gerhard Ramsaroop:

quote:

Originally posted by Tola:

quote:

Originally posted by Horse Man:
I dont need your AFC rass to tell me I made a good point. Haul all yuh tail dat side we are gonna beat all yuh senseless in this election.

It looks like the cat pee in you dhall too.

Uncle Toles you does gat me crackin up!

quote:

Originally posted by Gerhard Ramsaroop:

quote:

Originally posted by Tola:

quote:

Originally posted by Horse Man:
I dont need your AFC rass to tell me I made a good point. Haul all yuh tail dat side we are gonna beat all yuh senseless in this election.

It looks like the cat pee in you dhall too.

Uncle Toles you does gat me crackin up!

Gerhard, too much laughing mek yuh belly big...datts why I keep a straight face, even with dem PPP clown comedy on this board. Only Nehru mek me laugh caazz he ova di top with clownishness.

quote:

Originally posted by baseman: Gerhard, too much laughing mek yuh belly big...datts why I keep a straight face, even with dem PPP clown comedy on this board. Only Nehru mek me laugh caazz he ova di top with clownishness.

quote:

Originally posted by Horse Man:
This Guysuco thing is going to cost us the election, these chaps have mismanaged this whole damn thing and it has left a terrible mess there and sugar workers are cussing us morning noon and night.

Now they do not even go to GAWU to complain they just strike and walk off the job and go to an AFC chap to adjudicate the matter. The Estate manager has to end up going to this lil water wash boy and get him to sort out the matter and beg him to get the workers back to work.

People do not really know what is going on at the sugar estates but let me tell you guys it is a friggin mess.

Let us not forget that the leader of the AFc was part and parcel to the skeldon plant and hiring of booker tate who mismanaged the industry to consecutive years of losses. The sugar worker must realize that sugar is dead and the entire Caribbean has exited the industry for good reason rather than invest in modernization like Guyana did. Any move to profitability of the sugar industry will preclude manual labor as mechanization of the harvesting is one of the biggest ways of cutting cost and will spell the end of the cane cutters anyway. Don't sell these folks lies, they must be told the truth. The AFc is lying to the folks telling them that a place still exist for manual labor in the industry with higher wages. hahahhahah

quote:

Originally posted by BGurd_See:

quote:

Originally posted by Horse Man:
This Guysuco thing is going to cost us the election, these chaps have mismanaged this whole damn thing and it has left a terrible mess there and sugar workers are cussing us morning noon and night.

Now they do not even go to GAWU to complain they just strike and walk off the job and go to an AFC chap to adjudicate the matter. The Estate manager has to end up going to this lil water wash boy and get him to sort out the matter and beg him to get the workers back to work.

People do not really know what is going on at the sugar estates but let me tell you guys it is a friggin mess.

Let us not forget that the leader of the AFc was part and parcel to the skeldon plant and hiring of booker tate who mismanaged the industry to consecutive years of losses. The sugar worker must realize that sugar is dead and the entire Caribbean has exited the industry for good reason rather than invest in modernization like Guyana did. Any move to profitability of the sugar industry will preclude manual labor as mechanization of the harvesting is one of the biggest ways of cutting cost and will spell the end of the cane cutters anyway. Don't sell these folks lies, they must be told the truth. The AFc is lying to the folks telling them that a place still exist for manual labor in the industry with higher wages. hahahhahah

Dunce clown. Who mek sure the hired help did the quality work as prescribed? What were the conditions and deliverables? How come, if they screwed the project, they just walk off high and dry? What were the representations, remedies and inedmnifications for not delivering as contracted? No project is closed until the expected deliverables have been substantially satisfied. This is basic in any contract arrangement.

Bai alyuh is a commedy of errors and you their sorrowful sore of an excuse maker.

quote:

Originally posted by BGurd_See:

quote:

Originally posted by Horse Man:
This Guysuco thing is going to cost us the election, these chaps have mismanaged this whole damn thing and it has left a terrible mess there and sugar workers are cussing us morning noon and night.

Now they do not even go to GAWU to complain they just strike and walk off the job and go to an AFC chap to adjudicate the matter. The Estate manager has to end up going to this lil water wash boy and get him to sort out the matter and beg him to get the workers back to work.

People do not really know what is going on at the sugar estates but let me tell you guys it is a friggin mess.

Let us not forget that the leader of the AFc was part and parcel to the skeldon plant and hiring of booker tate who mismanaged the industry to consecutive years of losses. The sugar worker must realize that sugar is dead and the entire Caribbean has exited the industry for good reason rather than invest in modernization like Guyana did. Any move to profitability of the sugar industry will preclude manual labor as mechanization of the harvesting is one of the biggest ways of cutting cost and will spell the end of the cane cutters anyway. Don't sell these folks lies, they must be told the truth. The AFc is lying to the folks telling them that a place still exist for manual labor in the industry with higher wages. hahahhahah

Pardna it doan matter how you try to sweeten up this bitter pill the fact is that sugar workers see the PPP as having failed them and putting the blame at someone else's feet or trying to deflect this responsibility in a poor way isn't gonna fly with Sugar workers.

Skeldon failure is the government’s failure
By STABROEK STAFF | EDITORIAL | MONDAY, AUGUST 29, 2011

As far as admissions go, the one made by Agriculture Minister, Mr Robert Persaud in relation to the Skeldon factory was both breathtaking in scope and rife with repercussions for the industry and his government. Speaking at the signing of a wage agreement with the sugar union GAWU on August 19, Minister Persaud had this to say: “…the reality is, and to be honest, GuySuCo does not have the competence that it perceives to manage the factory, not even Guyana does not have that expertise, (and) at the end of the day GuySuCo would have to find an arrangement” for the management of the Skeldon factory. He then urged the board of GuySuCo to speed up consideration of proposals by an Indian and a Chinese company for the management of the Skeldon operations.

What perhaps the minister needed to say to be entirely honest about the situation was that the government and its hand-appointed board had completely misconceived and miscalculated the Skeldon project and five years into the project proper it was now confessing to the public that it didn’t have a clue about running it and were now issuing an SOS. Instead, the minister, as he is wont to do, made it seem as if the corporation was responsible for a sudden loss of the requisite skills needed to manage its ambitious flagship factory and estate.

Truth be told, and there can be no disputing this, the devising of the US$200M Skeldon project and the ill-fated decisions surrounding it such as the hiring of the Chinese company CNTIC to build the factory, are entirely the responsibility of President Jagdeo, Minister Persaud and the long-serving members of the GuySuCo Board such as Mr Donald Ramotar, the PPP/C’s presidential candidate. The present managers at GuySuCo have had no part to play in the major decisions that have been made about Skeldon and must be bewildered by the public dressing down by Minister Persaud about their abilities.

When this ambitious Skeldon project was conceived by President Jagdeo and others in the government and the ruling party they did not submit their postulations and estimations to an exhaustive review and due diligence by industry experts for the best possible decisions on the type of factory, market assumptions and the supply of cane. However, they surely must have at least addressed the issue of the factory to be built and whether the technology contained therein was manageable by the expertise available locally. The brain drain and the incessant turnover didn’t begin five or six years ago. It has been chronic for a much longer period.

Whatever the considerations, CNTIC was asked to deliver a turnkey project. Thereafter, management of the factory would become the responsibility of GuySuCo. This much was always clear. Amid the very serious delays and other problems experienced by CNTIC in getting the factory into working order, the government took the decision to dismiss Booker-Tate which had managed the industry to recovery in the 1990s and up to the catastrophic flooding in 2005. It then became the target of the government in relation to the failings of the Chinese company and slumping production and there was an acrimonious parting.

Thereafter, the corporation made its own decisions in relation to the management of the industry. At what stage of this tortuous and lengthy process did Minister Persaud and his government realize that the management expertise needed for this troubled Chinese-built behemoth was not available here? What efforts did it make to secure this expertise and was it satisfied that this could not be provided by Booker-Tate? The strategic thinking behind the project aside, it is widely believed that the present problems at the Skeldon factory are directly attributable to the Chinese contractor. Yet, there appears to have been no determined effort to have CNTIC penalized for these failings via liquidated damages and to withhold further payments. There has been no clear enumeration from the government on the outstanding obligations of CNTIC to the turnkey stage.

Which brings us to the second dilemma posed by Minister Persaud’s declaration on Skeldon i.e. his urging the board to speed up consideration of the proposals to manage Skeldon. When did the board begin deliberating on a new manager for the Skeldon operations and did it tender for the supply of these services? It would be grossly unacceptable if the government and board did not intend for management of this facility to be put to tender considering the magnitude and importance of the project. Worse, the prospect that the same contractor could be given the task of managing a facility riddled with problems attributable to it defies logic and belief.

Astoundingly, Minister Persaud on Friday told the media that the proposals from the Indian and Chinese companies to run Skeldon are an “enhancement” of the existing arrangement. By what alchemy has Minister Persaud and his government transformed a turnkey contract for the construction of a factory into one where the company, without tendering, will have a chance to manage it? By what miracle does Minister Persaud expect the public to digest the bitter medicine that the company which has been so discredited for its construction work on the factory will have a chance to manage it? Or is it the case, that the company will operate the factory for free until the running losses from the factory’s poor output have been recovered? What is the nexus between the Indian company that built the Enmore sugar packaging plant and the Skeldon factory that allows it the privilege of being considered for its management? It is beyond belief what this government and its senior officials are attempting to pull on the public.

What is even more galling to the public is the well-known failing of the government to synchronize the Skeldon project in such a way that when the factory was ready to roll there was adequate cane in the ground to feed its enormous demand. Years after the factory began its halting output of sugar it is still operating far below capacity partly due to the fact that the requisite amount of cane is not in the ground. As we have said on several occasions the conceptualizing of this project by the government and the GuySuCo board has been shocking, particularly in light of the scale of the investment drawn from local resources and the strategic objective to buttress sugar as a major employer and export earnings accumulator.

The underwhelming results from the factory and its continuing problems are an apt snapshot of the quality of governance from the PPP/C amid the bluster and rhetoric. It has shown itself signally incapable of strategizing on a major project, conceptualizing it, designing, building and executing it. President Jagdeo himself had vowed to get directly involved in sorting out the problems that beset Skeldon but it does not appear that he has lived up to his commitment.

It is unlikely that any tangible changes can be made now in the configuration of the Skeldon factory and the enormous difficulties that face the farmers and workers in that area. It will likely have to be the new government that emerges from elections which takes on board the rationale behind some of the major Skeldon decisions and determines what radical changes or otherwise are necessary. In the meantime, President Jagdeo and his officials along with the members of the board have much explaining to do.

Source

GuySuCo’s several strategic plans never admitted a dearth of competencies to manage the Skeldon factory
By STABROEK STAFF | LETTERS | TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2011

Dear Editor,

It bears repeating: ‘You can fool some of the people all the time; all the people some of the time; but you can’t fool all the people all the time,‘ except, of course, your own selves. This truism is most applicable to the press release regarding GuySuCo’s Skeldon ‘flagship’ (turned shipwreck) being ‘refloated’ by a choice of either Indian or Chinese contractors, who have been specifically identified for assignment to a lifeboat.

It is nonetheless a curious dilemma for the reputed decision-makers who, at the very beginning, had rejected the bid of an even more reputable Indian Engineering Group – representative of the second most acknowledged sugar factory builders in the world (after Brazil), in preference to a Chinese entity with comparatively little track record, who in the end delivered a malfunctioning range of technology that defied the comprehension of GuySuCo’s engineers, technologists and other operators (now described as ‘incompetents’); and, not to mention, that of the Board.

It must come now as a shocking revelation to the faithful, or generally under-informed, to learn that all they were previously told was an obfuscation of facts, by carefully contrived programmes of spin. The profound truth (well known to informed analysts) has now publicly been urged that GuySuCo’s several strategic plans never admitted the dearth of competencies within the organisation, to manage and operate the wonders of the Skeldon factory.

But this is not to say that amongst the organisation’s decision-makers are those who are quite aware of a willing body of experienced relevant expertise available locally, which is not necessarily unfamiliar with the Skeldon Project. So it is reasonable to enquire why no attempt has been made at least to conduct an examination of their individual and collective capabilities, if not prior to, but alongside the predictably more expensive options now being confusingly touted as ‘ongoing,’ and on whom future dependence will be interminable, particularly if no performance monitoring and evaluation mechanism were put in place to measure effectiveness.

Incidentally the press release should be read alongside Professor Clive Thomas’ column of Stabroek News, August 21, in which he makes the indisputable point that the productivity of a sugar factory is directly related to the volume (and quality) of cane supplied; and vice versa. When in the case of Skeldon, for example, adequate and timely cane supply is so much dependent on a number of apprehensive cane farmers, there seems need for very close consultation between GuySuCo and the latter, most of whom are newer farmers than is the factory itself.

Therefore with the prospect of its management by a team deriving from a different business-management culture, it is only right that private farmers’ interest be protected – in the first instance, through a prior joint review with GuySuCo of the National Cane Farming Committee Act, and the accompanying Regulations, which contain the statutory contract required to be entered into between the ‘manufacturer’ and the ‘cane farmer’; and which also quite articulately addresses issues raised by Professor Thomas, about the testing for quality, and pricing, of canes sold and bought – an area of competency that may well have eluded GuySuCo’s more recent appointees in factory and field.

An obvious concern must be the identification and preparation of replacements of the overseas managers by an agreed target date – as part of an overall performance agreement, with appropriate benchmarks to be achieved. Hence the need for a monitoring and evaluation mechanism managed by specific technical competences – which are not necessarily represented by the current GuySuCo Board. The quality of training (involving the possible use of translators) will add to a predictably costly imposition on taxpayers.

One would also expect that both GAWU and NAACIE will have very active interests in the human relationships to be forged between the new managers and, expectedly, two sets of employees: theirs from overseas and the unions’. The latter must insist that the relevant regulatory authorities be consistent in dealing with labour relations issues at Skeldon as with procedures observed at sister estates, particularly bearing in mind the differentiations recently exhibited by the Ministry of Labour in matters affecting bauxite workers. These reservations should be firmly inked into the proposed management agreement. It is pertinent to note that there is the normal movement of labour, and the transfer of staff from time to time across GuySuCo’s various locations.

The portents suggest the need for a high level human resource management capability at this location when the time comes, possibly involving more directly the current Chairman of the Board (given his industrial relations qualifications) whose responsibilities in any case seem to have been usurped by the subject ministry. At this juncture one can’t help speculating whether these developments were anticipated in the last (colour) print or plan.

It needs to be emphasised that the fundamental task is not so much the management and operation of the technology, difficult as predictably it will continue to be, but that of the equally predictable human relations problems which are bound to surface. The challenge will be of managing a group of demotivated ‘incompetents’ who are unlikely to succumb to a different cultural orientation. Notwithstanding, there is no escaping the need for stringent accountability arrangements to be written into any contract. Reporting relationships must be clearly specified, the latter preferably being totally organisational, and exclusive of political interventions.

In the face of these major challenges, it is churlish to utilise energy on ad hominem comments on other legitimate perspectives. It is even more disingenuous to exhume an impressionistic observation, on a fleeting visit by the late Winston Murray, to controvert the acknowledged depth of knowledge of an experienced sugar manager, who voiced apprehensions not unrelated to those expressed above. The described ‘complexity’ of issues could only reflect a spurious appreciation of the industry, while being more easily comprehended by the dozens of committed former GuySuCo experts, on whose behalf this submission is made.

Incidentally one does not recall any public notification that the second crop has begun, with all estates grinding; and of the production targets to be achieved, individually and severally.

Yours faithfully,
E B John

Source

There should be an inquiry into the Skeldon sugar factory
By STABROEK STAFF | LETTERS | WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2011

Dear Editor,

The time has come for an investigation to be conducted into the Skeldon sugar factory. There should be a special investigative committee of independent, technical persons, to investigate why the factory cannot operate as it was designed to do after the completion. The Minister of Agriculture should appoint the committee in consultation with the two unions which are representing workers in the industry. Unless some action is taken against those who are responsible for the failure of this factory, the sugar industry will continue to suffer. The losers will always be the ordinary workers and taxpayers.

As I have said before, we will have to acquire, adapt and develop technology as the propellant, so to speak, of our development activities. I have argued at several forums and at different times, that economic and social progress are not sustainable or even possible without transparency. The debt problems in the sugar industry have milked our country of many of its resources. Lest I be misunderstood, let me say clearly that I am not against foreign management but in principle I do not believe that it should in every instance, be the first or only option when we have the expertise here. We are speaking of neglecting our own people, and we cannot and must not take this lightly.

The new interim Board has not delivered on the plan of action for the industry and I urge the President to take note of this and ensure that he find the best people possible to manage this state-owned entity and give them clear mandates without too much political interference.

Yours faithfully,
Mohamed Khan

Source

Hold off until talks – GAWU warns - Hiring of foreign managers for Skeldon factory…
SEPTEMBER 4, 2011 | BY KNEWS | FILED UNDER NEWS

The country’s main sugar union is calling for government to hold off on placing the US$200M Skeldon factory under foreign management until a full stakeholders’ consultation is held. In a strongly worded statement, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) said that several critical questions should now be asked as to why the Skeldon factory, considered Guyana’s largest single capital project to date, has been singled out from the rest of sugar-making facilities, for foreign management.

GAWU’s stance on the foreign management issue would come a few weeks after Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, announced that the board of the state-owned Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) was considering Indian and Chinese proposals for the running of the factory. The official had admitted that GuySuCo does not have the management expertise to run the Skeldon Sugar factory but was careful to note that the government has no intention of privatising sugar, as this was important both to the economic and social fabric of the country, with thousands of families depending on sugar for their livelihood.

Already, opposition parties, the Alliance For Change (AFC) and A Parnership For National Unity (APNU), have blasted the announcement. According to GAWU, it has learnt that considerations could well be leaning towards the Chinese contractor, China National Technical Import and Export Corporation (CNTIC) and India-based Surendra Engineering which constructed the Enmore Sugar Packaging Plant. “If so, other troubling questions would arise. As we await these answers, GAWU is very much disappointed by the alleged remarks of the Minister implying that Guyanese are incapable of running the industry. It should be noted that local personnel are managing all the estates of the industry and the industry itself. Why is Skeldon factory now being isolated for possible outside management?” the union asked in the release.


GAWU is calling on government to hold off on hiring foreign management for the Skeldon sugar factory.

GAWU pointed out that while GuySuCo’s management may have its weaknesses, the union is not convinced that the Skeldon’s factory failures are solely the consequence of poor management. “Other critical factors are at the root of its misfortune. They are the factors that should be purposefully addressed. We hope that the Minister has been wrongly quoted, for it is impossible for any legitimate examination to lead to such a conclusion. GAWU hopes that facts are not manipulated nor are presented to justify the return of the industry into foreign hands.” GAWU urged for an “honest, objective and collective approach” by all the stakeholders to be a first step to address the Skeldon factory “failure”. “Incidentally GAWU wishes to observe that the workers and the union have not been made a scapegoat of the problematic factory, at least at this time. The Minister needs experience, advice and guidance.”

The factory has been dogged by a number of problems and GAWU has been agitating for the problems to be fixed so the factory could realize its potential. The corporation had set the end of next year to get the factory going at full speed. Government has said that GuySuCo needs to produce 300,000 tonnes of sugar annually to be profitable and Skeldon is being looked at as the answer to under-production that has been squeezing the industry of its juice. The under-production has been coupled with several industrial relations disputes that have been a major headache for the Corporation’s management. Last month, GAWU’s President Komal Chand emphasised the union’s concern about the Skeldon Project, saying that factory and field production need to be ramped up. He said that field production should enable the estate to meet two-thirds of needed canes, with the remainder being provided by farmers.

The opening of the factory came just over a month before Guyana, and the rest of the nations of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of countries, began losing preferential market access for sugar to Europe. The industry is also reeling from the reduced price Europe began taking for its sugar in 2006. At the start of 2010, the price cut went to the full 36 percent Europe imposed. The sugar industry directly sustains some 18,000 jobs, and when that is multiplied to include their families, it means sugar supports one-fifth of the country’s entire population. Sugar exports account for as much as 20 percent of the country’s annual revenue.

The Corporation was targeting the end of this year to complete all land development and planting, and expects to have in this period the 1.2 million tonnes of cane required by the new factory. Estate cultivation of sugar cane will have to grow to 9,600 hectares. The factory was constructed with a combination of self-generated funds and loans from the Caribbean Development Bank, the People’s Republic of China and the Government of Guyana. The Project Engineer was Booker Tate, UK Ltd and the Contractor was CNTIC Ltd.

Source

Clueless about Skeldon factory management contract - GAWU
Written by Demerara Waves Saturday, 03 September 2011 19:24


Skeldon Sugar Factory

The major union for thousands of sugar workers, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), says it was surprised by Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud’s recent revelation that a private contract is being sought for the management of the beleaguered Skeldon sugar factory.
At a news conference two Fridays ago the minster announced that GuySuCo was looking to engage either a Chinese or Indian company for the contract and urged the Corporation’s Board to move speedily on the matter.

However, in its release Saturday, GAWU claimed that it was “reliably informed” that the matter had not been brought before the Board at the time of the announcement. “Through the grapevine, GAWU has learnt that the Minister’s statement could well be related to the company that was a main part of the factory’s construction and the other, the firm that was engaged in building the Enmore Packaging Plant. If so, other troubling questions would arise,” GAWU stated.

The companies in question are CNTIC which worked on the modernisation of the Skeldon factory and Surendra Engineering which was engaged for the US$12.5M packaging plant. The union also took umbrage at the minister’s remark that they were going the route of private management because the needed expertise did not reside in the Corporation nor Guyana. “GAWU is very much disappointed by the alleged remarks of the Minister implying that Guyanese are incapable of running the industry. It should be noted that local personnel are managing all the estates of the industry and the industry itself. Why is Skeldon factory now being isolated for possible outside management?”

According to the union, management may generally have their weaknesses, but it is unconvinced that the Skeldon factory failures are solely the consequence of poor management. “We hope that the Minister has been wrongly quoted for it is impossible for any legitimate examination to lead to such a conclusion. GAWU hopes that facts are not manipulated nor are presented to justify the return of the industry into foreign hands.” GAWU added that it believes that an “honest, objective and collective approach” by all the stakeholders must be a first step to address Skeldon’s woes.

The Alliance For Change (AFC) also come out in opposition at a recent news briefing to the contracting of either companies to run the Skeldon factory. “These are people we understand who do not have any experience in management; one is good at infrastructure civil engineering, CNIC, and the other one is also a civil engineering firm so to go now to have management contracts to run sugar factories, I think they got plenty corruption behind these deals,” AFC Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan said.

He noted that the CNTIC has been blamed for many of the mechanical problems which beset the US$200M Skeldon factory. ‘The maker of this defect-riddled 8,400 tons cane-per-day grinding capacity factory, which has not yet achieved even half that amount for one day, is being evaluated as a potential contract manager,” Ramjattan declared. According to him, Surendra Engineering appears to be “specially favoured” because it was awarded a contract for eight drainage pumps even though it does not make them. Additionally, he said, the firm through a Dubai-based front company received a consultancy contract valued some US$500,000 to provide the plan to upgrade the Enmore and Blairmont factories.

Ramjattan said his party is aware of very experienced and well known Indian and Brazilian consortiums which ought to be invited to give proposals to manage the Skeldon Factory and possibly to procure finances from their respective governments to assist in doing so. However, the AFC believes that any move to privatise the factory’s management should be done after the general election and has signaled that it would not honour any contract signed with CNTIC or Surendra Engineering should it form the new government.

Source

GAWU surprised by Agri Minister’s statement on Skeldon management
By STABROEK EDITOR | LOCAL | SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2011

The main sugar union GAWU today said it was surprised by Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud’s exhortation for GuySuCo to decide quickly on Indian and Chinese proposals to manage the troubled Skeldon factory saying it has been reliably informed that the matter has not been taken to the board as yet. GAWU’s statement put it at further odds with Persaud over the Skeldon estate and upped the pressure on him to explain how it was he came to say proposals from Indian and Chinese companies are under consideration for the flagship Skeldon factory.

GAWU said it was very disappointed by the reported remarks by Persaud which implied that Guyanese were incapable of running the industry. GAWU said that local managers are running all of the other estates and the industry as a whole. The union also said that Persaud needs experience, advice and guidance.” “Why is Skeldon factory now being isolated for possible outside management? Generally, management may have their weaknesses, but the Union is not convinced that the Skeldon’s factory failures are solely the consequence of poor management. Other critical factors are at the root of its misfortune. They are the factors that should be purposefully addressed. We hope that the Minister has been wrongly quoted for it is impossible for any legitimate examination to lead to such a conclusion”, GAWU said.


An aerial view of the new Skeldon factory (SN file photo)

Persaud was widely reported as making these remarks and has not refuted them. Analysts surmise that the government is trying to deflect responsibility for the deep woes of the Skeldon factory, planning for which had largely been in the hands of President Bharrat Jagdeo and the GuySuCo board of which PPP Presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar has been a member since 1992.

Critics have said one of the key blunders by the Jagdeo administration and the board was the hiring of the Chinese firm CNTIC to construct the factory. Since Persaud’s statement on the Skeldon management, reports have said that CNTIC was one of the two companies being considered to run Skeldon. When asked about this Persaud had said that this would be just an enhancement of the CNTIC arrangement if agreed to. Critics have said this is not conceivable as CNTIC had a turnkey project i.e. to deliver a fully functional factory that GuySuCo would then run.

GAWU, which has over the past few years been increasingly at odds with the government over the management of the industry and wages, said it is widely known that the factory is still beset by major defects which continue to inhibit its performance. “We certainly recall late last year, one of the Factory’s two boilers exploded. Subsequently it was repaired by the Contracting Company at its own cost of US$2.5M and which only returned to service at the beginning of the current autumn crop.” The sugar union, the bedrock of the ruling party’s labour support, reiterated that the corporation has to “truthfully advise workers, indeed, this nation on the state of affairs of the new Skeldon factory which remains unfriendly to the industry’s treasury.”

The full statement follows:

“The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), the bargaining agent for thousands of workers in Guyana’s sugar sector who are employed by the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (Guysuco), was very surprised by the Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud’s revelation that the Corporation was looking to engage either a Chinese or Indian company for the management of the operations of Skeldon Estate. The Minister urged the Board to quickly deliberate on the matter, a matter which, the Union has been reliably informed, has not even been received by the Board for consideration at the time of the Minister’s announcement.”

“The strategic thinking behind the Skeldon Sugar Modernisation Project (SSMP) was to buttress the industry following the effects of the reform, a few years ago, of the European Union’s Sugar Regime. The Project was designed to include a state-of-the art factory capable of producing 110,000 tonnes sugar per annum.” “The factory, a turnkey project constructed by China National Technical Import & Export Corporation (CNTIC) had already been far behind schedule when it began to experience debilitating problems which have persisted. The factory is effectively in the hands of the Sugar Corporation, having been taken over by Guysuco in November last year.”

“It is widely known that the factory is still beset by major defects which continue to inhibit its maximum and efficient performance. We certainly recall late last year, one of the Factory’s two boilers exploded. Subsequently it was repaired by the Contracting Company at its own cost of US$2.5M and which only returned to service at the beginning of the current autumn crop.” “The Corporation needs to take corrective measures at the technical level lest the Factory’s problems continue to bedevil the whole industry. The Sugar Industry has the capacity presently to produce far greater sugar than this year’s revised target of 282, 712 tonnes. Had the new factory been performing as per design and with the additional cane from farmers and the expanded Estate cultivation, even greater quantities of sugar could be easily produced.

“However, if the production target is achieved, although modest, at the prevailing world market sugar price, the beleaguered industry will be able to alleviate itself, this year, of its deep indebtedness.” “GAWU wishes to reiterate its call for the Corporation to truthfully advise workers, indeed, this nation on the state of affairs of the new Skeldon factory which remains unfriendly to the industry’s treasury.” “Through the grapevine, GAWU has learnt that the Minister’s statement could well be related to the Company that was a main part of the Factory’s construction and the other, the firm that was engaged in building the Enmore Packaging Plant. If so, other troubling questions would arise.”

“As we await these answers, GAWU is very much disappointed by the alleged remarks of the Minister implying that Guyanese are incapable of running the industry. It should be noted that local personnel are managing all the estates of the industry and the industry itself. Why is Skeldon factory now being isolated for possible outside management? Generally, management may have their weaknesses, but the Union is not convinced that the Skeldon’s factory failures are solely the consequence of poor management. Other critical factors are at the root of its misfortune. They are the factors that should be purposefully addressed. We hope that the Minister has been wrongly quoted for it is impossible for any legitimate examination to lead to such a conclusion.”

“GAWU hopes that facts are not manipulated nor are presented to justify the return of the industry into foreign hands.” “GAWU feels that an honest, objective and collective approach by all the stakeholders be a first step to address Skeldon’s failure.” “Incidentally GAWU wishes to observe that the workers and the union have not been made a scapegoat of the problematic factory, at least at this time.” “The Minister needs experience, advice and guidance.”

Source

quote:

Originally posted by Sase Singh:

quote:

Originally posted by Sase Singh:

quote:

Originally posted by Demerara_Guy:

quote:

The AFC, he added, was against either of them being considered for the contract and would not be “fettered” by such a contract with either firm should the party form the new government.

Khemraj Ramjattan
Alliance For Change

should the party form the new government = .. in 2011??

Goat bite the AFC or wha, lol

Goat bite the AFC or Wah Demerara man? We will win more that 51% that is our plan and once the people are sensetise to our plan, more than 51% it shall be.

Probably, win about 5% but more than 1% for the 2011 elections.

AFC just calling for the decision to be put on hold until the people have voted the AFC into office when we can engage a professional team from India or Brazil to do a total diagnostic of the industry.

Why the hurry PPP? Is there something to hide?

Are you share that the US$1 million bribe paid for the Skeldon factory will come to the top. Do not worry, wiki leaks will bring it out in 12 months time.

Those who struggled for the Skeldon sugar factory must feel betrayed
By STABROEK STAFF | LETTERS | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2011

Dear Editor,

All those who have struggled consistently for the modernisation of the Skeldon sugar factory must certainly now feel a great sense of betrayal that finally the Chinese will manage the factory without the consultation of the main union Guyana Agricultural and General Workers‘ Union (GAWU). As a former field secretary of the GAWU I still hold very strongly that we have the expertise to manage this factory. No one can deny that the GAWU and its members played a leading role in the great struggle of the sugar industry and a return to democratic rule in Guyana.

The union through consistent struggles and militant action has defied the World Bank study which required the closure of the Demerara estates. It is prudent to draw attention to the recent revelation about some Indian and Chinese companies operating in Africa that are engaged in the exploitation of workers. We can walk between the raindrops of conformism and transformation of the Skeldon factory if we commit to principles and prudent management. Our performance and forecast in the economic/financial sphere up to the end of 1997 was positive.

I therefore believe that Guyana should struggle not only to retain its expertise, but also to expand it in the sugar factories. The public sector should not be denied that right. Having said this, I would hasten to add that if we are to succeed in holding on to the Skeldon sugar factory, it is clear that we must improve performance and production. In this regard we will need a combination of several factors. We will need skilled managers and the dedication of our workers. The Guyanese people have acquired great experience in the sugar industry and given the opportunity now without political interference, they will be able to make very valuable contributions.

Yours faithfully,
Mohamed Khan
Former GAWU Field Secretary

Source

Ramotar ditches foreign management for Skeldon Factory
Written by Denis Scott Chabrol Thursday, 08 September 2011 16:18

In the wake of opposition to foreign management by the major sugar union, Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) presidential candidate, Donald Ramotar on Thursday said he preferred only technical assistance for the beleaguered Skeldon Sugar Factory. Ramotar’s position appears to be in stark contrast from Agriculture Minister, Robert Persaud who had some weeks ago urged the Guyana Sugar Corporation’s (GuySuco) board to fast-track consideration of proposal for either an Indian or Chinese company to manage the factory because Guyana does not have the expertise.

“I’m not sure if his position, if his assessment is totally correct about our capacity to manage Skeldon but I do know we will probably need some technical assistance from Skeldon in dealing with some of the issues,” said Ramotar. The PPP General Secretary pointed out that GuySuco has the managerial skills and so hopefully there would be no need for a management contract like the Booker-Tate model that was scrapped a couple of years ago.

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), which is closely aligned to the governing Peoples Progressive Party (PPP), has already expressed surprise and disappointment at the fact that Persaud has announced that government was again going overseas for managers to run the industry. “GAWU is very much disappointed by the alleged remarks of the Minister implying that Guyanese are incapable of running the industry. It should be noted that local personnel are managing all the estates of the industry and the industry itself. Why is Skeldon factory now being isolated for possible outside management?” GAWU wants an “honest, objective and collective approach” by all the stakeholders must be a first step to address Skeldon’s woes.

Reiterating that time would prove that the estimated US$200 million Skeldon Factory was a good investment, Ramotar identified the need for the sugar corporation to place greater effort to be placed on field work. “I have no doubt that all the problems at Skeldon will be solved and Skeldon will eventually prove its worth and the good decision that it has been,” he said. He noted that a lot of money has been spent on mechanization and encouraging old and new farmers to prepare for the less labour-intensive operation.

Source

The GOG seems disorganized with a minister making a decision about an issue and its changed by either Jagdeo or Ramotar. They look foolish when this happens.
Dont they have a central way for decision making.

quote:

Originally posted by Tola:
The GOG seems disorganized with a minister making a decision about an issue and its changed by either Jagdeo or Ramotar. They look foolish when this happens.
Dont they have a central way for decision making .

Sure Tola, don't you know it's done in the rumshop.

quote:

Originally posted by cain:

quote:

Originally posted by Tola:
The GOG seems disorganized with a minister making a decision about an issue and its changed by either Jagdeo or Ramotar. They look foolish when this happens.
Dont they have a central way for decision making .

Sure Tola, don't you know it's done in the rumshop.

Come to think of it, me hear PPP decisions being made in GT and Berbice rumshops.

quote:

Originally posted by Gerhard Ramsaroop:

“I’m not sure if his position, if his assessment is totally correct about our capacity to manage Skeldon but I do know we will probably need some technical assistance from Skeldon in dealing with some of the issues,” said Ramotar. The PPP General Secretary pointed out that GuySuco has the managerial skills and so hopefully there would be no need for a management contract like the Booker-Tate model that was scrapped a couple of years ago.

This is the first time Ramotar is seen taking a presidential stance. My assumption is that Robert Persaud will not be part of his cabinet come 2012. Maybe he may even give Ramjattan a lil minista wuk. hahahhahahha